Manufacture Smarter Blog

4/29/2016 - THE CENTER
For those of you whose organization has a Quality Management System (QMS) and an Environmental Management System (EMS), the act of integrating both systems into one can prove difficult. When ISO 14001:2015 was released, a sign of relief was heard around the world when it was discovered it followed the same High Level Structure (HLS) as ISO 9001:2015.

4/15/2016 - THE CENTER
It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where each part perfectly matched the design model. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect world! Although imperfections are a reality in the manufacturing world, it’s crucial to work towards continuously reducing project inadequacies.

3/18/2016 - THE CENTER
Now, more than ever before, the economy is experiencing a more competitive manufacturing industry. Taking advantage of every opportunity is crucial in keeping up with and surpassing the competition.

2/26/2016 - THE CENTER
Continuing with Part 2 of our Manufacturing 101 blog series (See Part 1), we’re moving forward from the first few weeks of managing tedious lists to the next task of effectively collecting and reporting data. In order to appropriately display data, it is crucial to convey the true message and focus.

1/15/2016 - THE CENTER
It isn’t uncommon for newly graduated and well-educated engineers to immediately begin their career in manufacturing. They sit down at a new desk, organize materials, and layout their “task” list provided by their new managers.

9/11/2015 - THE CENTER
ISO standards help make the world safer and more efficient. The sparked interest in the new ISO 9001:2015 revision is significant, given that the draft has notable changes vs. the current 2008 version.

8/14/2015 - THE CENTER
ISO 9001 is the world’s most utilized management system standard, and currently, all eyes are on its revision. The anticipated release date later this year of the revised version, ISO 9001:2015, has many companies asking how the revision will affect them. Specifically, what are the key changes required for existing ISO 9001-compliant quality management systems to achieve compliance with the revised standard?

8/7/2015 - THE CENTER
Every business has its fair share of problems. Equipment breaks, deliveries arrive late, or production quality waivers. Overcoming challenges is a normal part of business. However, schedules are often so busy that we can only apply a “quick fix” to our issues.

5/22/2015 - THE CENTER
There have been many questions circulating from our manufacturers regarding ISO 9001 certification. One of the most prevalent questions was whether a company should register to ISO 9001:2008 now, or wait until ISO 9001:2015 is released. Although it may sound counter intuitive, the best option may be to register to ISO 9001:2008 now and then plan to transition to the 2015 version at a later time. 

5/8/2015 - THE CENTER
As most of you have probably heard, ISO 14001 has an updated version due out in late 2015. So after 11 years of getting used to the present requirements, it’s all about to change. ISO 14001’s major revision will reflect what is called the “High Level Structure” based on ISO’s Annex SL. If you don’t understand it, don’t worry as it will all be explained soon!